Hello all, as before from the blog - Pictures can be seen on the blog --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yesterday we were privileged enough to be able to visit Foxtrot Knight at Robin's Farm Racing; we have a share in Foxtrot Knight through the Foxtrot Racing Syndicate and this was our first visit go the yard. The yard is located close to Chiddingfold, in a lovely countryside setting, with a hill for the horses to gallop up in their training. As we approached the yard, the electric gates opened, and we soon became emersed into a racing yard. A busy and professional racing yard at that. Olly was showing some of the syndicate the software the yard uses to track and monitor the training of the horses, with GPS and heart rate monitors, allowing for geographical mapping of the work the horses do. As a confessed GIS geek this had already appealed to me, and it makes perfect sense for trainers, owners and connections of the horses to be able to monitor the work even if they cannot get to see the work on the gallops. It also allows comparison of work that cannot be done easily by eye. If Olly needs any help with this, just let me know!! This theme of technology working alongside training nouse, dedication and horsemanship (sp?) of those who work in the yards, was one that was revisited throughout the visit. Soon we started a walk to the end of the circular gallop, with Olly on his hack horse leading the way, and this soon caused amusement as one of fillies in the work lot seems to be besotted by the hack and without wanting to cause issues for the work rider it was decided that the hack needed to return to his stable as soon as possible!! Horses walking on the round gallop (Foxtrot last horse in group) The lot started with their work, being led by Green Door, and the group of two year olds were very different in size, scope and muscle definition, with Foxtrot Knight looking more developed than many of the group. In the workgroup was a Duke Of Marmalade chestnut filly which caught my eye, she is a lovely looking sort, who will surely develop into a smart three year old over middle distances. They did two canters up the gallop and all looked serene with the work, all behaving themelves in the process. The hill is a wonderful spectacle, when the horses circle at the top, and as Olly stated, the sight of horses with a sunrise behind them, must be something to behold. We then got to see the horses in their stables, firstly with Foxtrot Knight being unsaddled and then seeing the others as they went through the daily routine, with the stable staff working around us with great efficiency. One of the highlights was seeing the farrier working on one of the string, the dedication and precision of the work showed what a skilled job people do in the racing and equine industries. We got to stand on the vibrating floor which has been used to aid the promotion of strong bones in the horses, whilst aiding recovery from injuries. It was strange to be stood on a giant powerplate (apparently) that made legs feel strange after a while, however this is another technology that Olly is embracing. Olly was very open in discussing how he sees the yard progressing, the way they work and his views on differing subjects within racing, as varied as the pattern book and genome work! Now, onto the horses.... Foxtrot Knight looks a precocious juvenile, he looks powerful and slightly stocky, and he is on the easy list at the minute so maybe didn't look quite as well as many in the yard. We will see how he looks when he makes his racecourse debut. He did look to have a nice temperament (very quiet in his box) and everyone seems pleased with him. The other juveniles all looked well, my favourite was the Duke Of Marmalade filly, who after having a look on the Pearl Bloodstock website seems to be out of a mare called Guantanamera. She looks a really nice filly who will surely be a middle distance horse of some quality. I am also going to keep an eye on a horse called Fast Lola (does she drink Cherry Cola?) who is an Equiano filly who looks to be the yards most precocious filly, she might well be a very good horse. The best juvenile looks to be The Paco Kid, who should be one of the first to see a racecourse, it will be a good indicator to where the string are in terms of development. Bron was most taken by the juvenile, The Big Lad, who is by Kheleyf, she liked that he popped his head out of his stall and was inquisitive. I guess that is as good of a reason as any!! He also had a good head, and who am I to argue! Probably of more interest is that Olly Stevens spoke enthusiastically about the horses Heisman and Lightning Thunder. Heisman is a big horse, and was named after the Heisman Trophy in American Football, was the first horse Olly mentioned when questioned about horses to follow. He is going to run at Doncaster at the start of the flat season and Olly was really keen on his chances of having a successful season. It will be interesting to see if he is a horse who improves for racing, or whether he will be spot on when he debut's. He is a very good looking individual and one you wouldn't think was out of place in a top jumps yard, he certainly is big enough to jump! Lightning Thunder is going for the Guineas, and Olly didn't put anyone off from having a bet in the race, suggesting that if we can forgive her final run, she should be very close to Miss France in the market. She is around 33/1 at the minute, and whilst I am not having a bet on her, she doesn't look a 33/1 shot on paper or in the flesh. She looked very well and was taking a liking to one of the syndicate, having a nibble at the ladies hair! The yard is a nice mixture of 'relatively' cheap horses running under Pearl Bloodstock, and some partnerships and syndicates and then the more expensive horses in the colours of Qatar Racing. It will be interesting to see how the yard do with the two Montjeu's and their Sea The Stars three year old called Royal Battalion. A thoroughly enjoyable morning, one that was made more enjoyable by meeting people as passionate about racing as I am, be them fellow syndicate members, Dan who runs the syndicate or Olly and his team. A big thank you to all
Thanks Ron. Exciting yes, but feet grounded as he is taking an easy week and lets face it, performances on the racecourse are what matters in the sport. Hopefully he stays sound and we get to see him racing in the not too distant future.
Good stuff. Exciting times ahead for you hopefully. Best of luck with Foxtrot, be good to see him in action.
Nass, lovely piece. And good luck with the Knight. I see he’s already on the RP database and has entries in Newbury’s ‘Super Sprint’ and Doncaster even more expensive ‘Sales Race’. You will deffo be in the money if he dots up in one of those heats! Interestingly as the yard is awash with Qatari money and very closely linked to those old boys if he proves useful it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise to see those types make you a huge offer. In fact it might be somewhat shrewd to whisper to Olly that he should be trained to the minute first time up with the view to him doting up by several lengths. A mega money offer could then follow! They did this last year I seem to recall with quite a few horses – Beldale Memory of Clive Cox’s certainly being one. She trotted up at Bath first time up prior to be purchased for an absolute fortune.
Barney that is a really interesting point for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we are leasing him from Pearl Bloodstock this season, it allows us to get a horse who is probably worth more than most in the syndicate are prepared to fork out for purchasing price. This obviously means we don't get any of the 'sale' fee if he does prove good enough to be going through the ring or in a private transaction. However it was discussed with Olly that racing isn't always about having a great time on the racecourse and sometimes it is making shrewd decisions for future sales, keep an eye on the yards last winner, they are probably going to sell the horse at the sales in the hope of turning a fair profit on the work they have done. If the season goes as well as the first visit has, I think I will be scouring the yard next year for something that I can take on a buy share basis, because as you say, if you get a good juvenile, you might well end up with a nice little asset. That said, I want to go racing with a horse that I have interest in, and that definitely is why getting involved in Foxtrot Knight looks to be just the ticket. Lets hope so!
Good on yer Nass, I wish I was in the same position as a you and a few others on the forum who have some sort of share in a horse... Maybe in the future it may happen... Hope you get a lot of pleasure out of him...
